On April 15, 2019 Peter Joshua, Director of Education at Peel District School Board (PDSB), issued the following statement:
Director’s statement regarding anti-Semitic concerns raised over class project
Administrators at Stephen Lewis Secondary School have been made aware of a class project being undertaken as part of a grade 12 Equity and Social Justice: From Theory to Practice course. At that time, concerns were raised that the project and a poster that students hung in a school hallway are anti-Semitic and that the campaign they had chosen to raise awareness on is based on non-credible sources.
School administrators contacted board
office staff and the school’s superintendent of education to
determine next steps. On Friday, the poster was removed pending a
full investigation, led by the school’s superintendent of education.
That investigation began immediately and is ongoing. We recognize
that the poster should have been taken down when concerns were first
raised, while we looked into it. For this, we apologize.
As
of Friday afternoon, the school and Peel District School Board have
heard concerns of anti-Semitism from organizations and individuals
outside of the Peel community. We recognize the severity of the hurt
and harm that the class project has caused for members of the Jewish
community and others inside and outside of Peel Region. Your concerns
of anti-Semitism are heard and we commit to a full review of the
project, guided by the board’s Safe Schools and Equity and Inclusive
Education policies.
What we’ve been able to learn to date
tells us that there are gaps in understanding that we need to address
through education. Are we prepared to work with local Jewish faith
leaders and other community leaders to address the concerns and
restore a sense of safety and respect for all? Absolutely. We will do
this being mindful that we must also be sensitive to the well-being
and safety of those who participated in the class project. This is a
responsibility we take seriously as our duty of care extends to all
members of the school community.
Although our investigation
continues, and we have more to learn about the project and its goals,
we acknowledge that we must seek the support of community experts in
our learning. That will happen over the next few days.
We’d
like to thank members of the Jewish community, including the Centre
for Israel and Jewish Affairs [CIJA] who we’ve already been in touch
with, for bringing this to our attention. Due to privacy laws, we
will not be able to share the outcome of the investigation with
individuals that are not directly involved. However, we want everyone
to know that we commit to a comprehensive investigation that is
focused on repairing hurt and harm, and to restoring positive
climates for learning and working for all.
Peter Joshua
Director of Education